Latest News

Empowering Permanent Service Committees: Training Initiative for Municipal Representatives 

May 15, 2024

Bashki të Forta Project, in collaboration with the Agency for Support of Local Self-Government, ASPA - Albanian School of Public Administration, and the Association for Local Autonomy (SHAV), continued its training sessions for permanent service commissions, with representatives from municipal councils and administrations for the municipalities in the districts of Fier, Korçë, and Berat. 

The training topic focused on enhancing capacities for the functioning of public service commissions, pre-school education, and waste management. It also covered the role of commissions and councils in decision-making, public consultation, and monitoring. 

These trainings are crucial for further enhancing the capacities of council commissions to oversee the work of local administrations and for ensuring high-quality decision-making aimed at improving citizens' lives. The training sessions will continue in the coming days and weeks with trainers from organizations such as the Urban Research Institute and Smart Processes LLC.

Strong Municipality Project is an initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation implemented by Helvetas. The main aim of the project is to ensure that Albanian citizens benefit from the improvement of governance and services at the local level according to minimum and feasible standards approved for a sustainable system in the country.

Enhancing Local Governance Capacities: Ongoing Training for Municipal Committees 

May 1, 2024

Bashki të Forta Project, in collaboration with the Agency for Support of Local Self-Government (ASPA), the Albanian School of Public Administration (ASPA), and the Association for Local Autonomy (SHAV), continued today with the training of permanent commissions, involving representatives from municipal councils and administrations for the municipalities of Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Mallakastër, Selenicë, and Himarë.

The training focused on enhancing the capacities of public service commissions, pre-school education, and waste management. It also covered the role of commissions and councils in decision-making, public consultation, and monitoring.

These trainings are crucial for further enhancing the capacities of municipal council commissions to oversee the work of local administrations and to ensure high-quality decision-making aimed at improving the lives of citizens. The trainings will continue in the following days and weeks with trainers from organizations such as the Urban Research Institute and Smart Processes LLC.

Strong Municipality Project is an initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation implemented by Helvetas. The main aim of the project is to ensure that Albanian citizens benefit from the improvement of governance and services at the local level according to minimum and feasible standards approved for a sustainable system in the country.

Capacity Building: Online Training Sessions for Urban Planning and Public Health in Schools 

March 11, 2024

Experts from Smart Processes LLC, as part of the Schools for Health Project, have conducted 15 online training sessions for the module "Urban Planning and Public Health in Schools".

✅This training aimed to strengthen capacities and structures at the local level related to urban planning for a healthy lifestyle.

📍The training sessions were conducted in collaboration with 9-year schools in the ZVA Gjirokastër-Libohovë, Tepelenë-Memaliaj, Vlorë, Sarandë-Delvinë, Shkodër, Berat, Korçë, Elbasan, Pogradec, Maliq, Devoll, Durrës, Shijak, Krujë, Kuçovë, Poliçan, Peqin, Librazhd, Gramsh, Kukës, Lezhë, Mirditë, Kurbin, Tropojë, Has, Belsh, Cërrik, and Përrenjas districts.

Participants in the training included various interest groups, such as:

🔹 Representatives from local government units
🔹 Representatives from school boards and parent councils
🔹 Members of local organizations
🔹 Teachers and school administrators
🔹 Community members
🔹 Field experts.

📚🍎The "Schools for Health" Project is an initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by the organization "Save the Children" in Albania.

Berat for Health: Promoting Healthy Behaviors through the Electronic Platform 

February 19, 2024

https://beratipershendetin.info it is an electronic platform built by Smart Processes LLC in close collaboration with the Local Education Office of Berat, which aims to promote healthy behaviors among students in schools and the wider community. Additionally, it will serve as a best practice example for other schools.

It will also provide a social environment where students can interact with their peers and learn from each other. The platform is built within the framework of the Schools for Health project.

📚🍎The "Schools for Health" Project is an initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by the organization "Save the Children" in Albania.

📣The "Schools for Health" Project aims to educate children aged 6-16 about healthy behaviors to prevent chronic diseases in the future.

Healthy Recreation: Volleyball Activity at Adem Alushi School, Libohovë 

February 9, 2024

📌The "Schools for Health" Project aims to educate children aged 6-16 about healthy behaviors in order to prevent chronic diseases in the future.

🏐In this activity, a volleyball game was organized, where parents and their children were divided into two teams.

This activity aimed to encourage parents and children to engage in healthy activities, such as sports.🎾⚽🏀

📚🍎The "Schools for Health" Project is an initiative of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by the organization "Save the Children" in Albania.

📣The "Schools for Health" Project aims to educate children aged 6-16 about healthy behaviors in order to prevent chronic diseases in the future.

Promoting Good Hygiene Practices in Gjirokastër's 9-Year-Old Schools 

February 8, 2024

📌Within the "Schools for Health" Project, experts from Smart Processes LLC have organized several activities on 'Good Hygiene Practices' with the 9-year-old students of schools in the district of Gjirokastër.

🔹Adem Alushi School, Krahës
🔹Avni Rustemi School, Libohovë

Children were informed about:
🔸General aspects of daily hygiene
🔸Tips for maintaining good hygiene

🔸 COVID-19 and measures for its prevention.
🔸 Recommendations for preventing infectious diseases.

🗣️ During the activity, children were provided with masks and were explained step by step on how to correctly wear them, according to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, to prevent the spread of the virus among children.

📚🍎 The "Schools for Health" Project is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by Save the Children in Albania.

📣 The "Schools for Health" Project aims to educate children aged 6-16 about healthy behaviors to prevent chronic diseases in the future.

Smart Processes' Contribution to Strengthening Pre-School Education in Albania 

February 2, 2024

Experts from Smart Processes, as part of the Strong Municipalities Project, participated in the 2-day activity "Sharing Experiences, Improving Pre-School Education" on January 30-31 in Tirana. Smart Processes has assisted municipalities including Kukës, Shkodër, Durrës, Dimal, Vlorë, and Korçë in the first phase of the project from 2019 to 2022, in drafting Improvement Plans for Pre-School Education.

Additionally, Smart Processes has assisted municipalities in designing good models for managing pre-school education and mechanisms to make them functional in municipalities, including:

The successfully implemented models were presented during the activity.

"Bashki të Forta" is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), implemented by Helvetas. The main aim of the project is for Albanian citizens to benefit from the improvement of governance and services at the local level according to minimum and affordable standards approved for a sustainable system in the country.

Sports Competitions for Health in Gjirokastër's Schools 

January 26, 2024

📌In the framework of the "Schools for Health" Project, experts from Smart Processes LLC, together with the 9-year-old schools in the city of Gjirokastra, organized three sports competitions including football and volleyball during the month of January 2024. 🏐⚽️ 

🔸 Schools 'Andon Zako Çajupi' and 'Koto Hoxhi'
🔸 Schools 'Koto Hoxhi' and 'Urani Rumbo' 

🔸 Schools 'Andon Zako Çajupi' and 'Urani Rumbo'
🏆At the end of the game, the winning team received the first-place certificate and the winning trophy, while the losing team received the second-place certificate. 

The aim of this competition was to enhance children's skills in group games and organization within the team, practice sports, emphasize the importance of staying active, and socialize with others. ⛹️‍♂️⛹️‍♀️

📚🍎The "Schools for Health" Project is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Save the Children in Albania.

📣The "Schools for Health" Project aims to educate children aged 6-16 about healthy behaviors to prevent chronic diseases in the future.

Promoting Healthy Eating: Activities in Gjirokastër's Schools 

January 22, 2024

📌 As part of the "Schools for Health" Project, experts from Smart Processes LLC have organized several activities for "Healthy Eating" with the 9-year-old students of Gjirokastër district.📍
🔺 9-Year School "Koto Hoxhi" - Official Page
🔺 9-Year School "Urani Rumbo" Gjirokastër 

🔺 9-Year School Andon Zako Çajupi Gjirokastër
🔺 9-Year School "7 Marsi" Tepelenë
🔺 9-Year School "Nimete Progonati"

The children were informed about:

🔸 Healthy eating and the consumption of 5 food meals.
🔸 Macronutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats).
🔸 Micronutrients (minerals, vitamins).
🔸 The importance of water in the human body.
🔸 Dependency and damages caused by smoking and alcohol.
🔸 Dependency and damages caused by drugs.

During the activity, the children were provided with seasonal fruits, explaining the importance of their consumption and their nutritional value in the human body.

📚🍎The "Schools for Health" Project is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and is implemented by the organization "Save the Children" in Albania.

📣 The "Schools for Health" Project aims to educate children aged 6-16 about healthy eating habits to prevent chronic diseases in the future.


Monitoring the Plan for Improving Preschool Education.

December 19, 2023

🤝In close collaboration with the "Dimal Municipality" and the Mayor of the Municipality, Mrs. Juliana Memaj, an activity was held focusing primarily on the methodology of monitoring the "Preschool Education Improvement Plan", presenting the analysis of the situation regarding the objectives and new projects to be included in the new Preschool Education Improvement Plan for the next three years, 2024 - 2026. 

Smart Processes, as part of the "Strong Municipality" project since March 2023, has been assisting 12 municipalities in drafting Preschool Education Improvement Plans.

📍 Municipality of Fier
📍 Municipality of Elbasan
📍 Municipality of Berat
📍 Municipality of Gjirokastër
📍 Municipality of Tepelenë
📍 Municipality of Delvinë
📍 Municipality of Dibër
📍 Municipality of Lezhë
📍 Municipality of Vau Dejës
📍 Municipality of Shijak
📍 Municipality of Mirditë
📍 Municipality of Maliq

This activity was carried out within the "Strong Municipalities" project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by Helvetas with the aim of improving governance and services at the local level.


Plan for Improving Preschool Education in 12 Municipalities

December 18, 2023

Smart Processes, as part of the Strong Municipalities project since March 2023, has been assisting 12 municipalities in the country in developing Preschool Education Improvement Plans. Representatives from the 12 municipalities: Elbasan, Berat, Fier, Maliq, Shijak, Mirditë, Lezhë, Dibër, Vau i Dejës, Gjirokastër, Tepelenë, and Delvinë are working on the next steps to improve preschool education services at the local level.

In addition to a participatory process in the development of the Preschool Education Service Improvement Plans for 2024-2026, deputy mayors of municipalities, senior local government officials, and municipal advisors gathered together during regional workshops in Tirana, Elbasan, and...

Gjirokastër on December 06, 07, and 12 organized by Strong Municipalities. Strong Municipalities is a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) implemented by Helvetas. The main aim of the project is to ensure that Albanian citizens benefit from improved governance and services at the local level according to minimum standards and sustainable systems approved for the country. Strong Municipalities Helvetas Swiss Development & Cooperation.